The McBride Sisters of Truvée Wines

The McBride Sisters of Truvée Wines were in town this week introducing their wines to the Houston market. At a press luncheon at Coppa Osteria, members of the media had the opportunity to hear their story and taste this new line of wines now conveniently available at Kroger's grocery stores. The name Truvée is derived from the French verb that means to find, a fitting name as I learned, after hearing their history. 

Robin and Andréa McBride grew up without each other. They had the same father but they had different mothers and they did not know that the other existed. Interestingly, they were both being raised in up and coming wine regions on opposite sides of the globe. Robin, the elder sister, grew up in Monterey, California, surrounded by vineyards leading to her early career in technical sales and the international importing and exporting of wine. Younger sister, Andréa, was growing up in Marlborough, New Zealand, where she was introduced to the wine industry via the business of grape growing by her uncle in Spring Creek.

When their father learned that he was dying, his final wish was to find both of his daughters and unite them. Their father, unfortunately, did not live to see this dream realized but his brother made sure that this connection was completed and that the two girls would find each other. The two sisters were brought together by their father's family in 1999 and their mutual passion for wine led them to begin a wine import business together. They would later create eco.love Wines, a sustainable wine company making Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir wines in New Zealand. 

The McBride sisters then brought their vision to California's Central Coast sourcing grapes from some of the best vineyards in Chalone, Monterey, Edna Valley, San Benito and Paso Robles to create both a Chardonnay and a Red Blend made from Grenache, Syrah, Merlot and Zinfandel, both created in a fresh approachable style. Their goal was to make high quality yet affordable wines that would showcase the terroir of California's Central Coast. Their dream has come to fruition with Truvée Wines.

I particularly enjoyed the Chardonnay which was sourced from several vineyards that were selected for their sustainable practices. The wine has lush tropical aromas and flavors with a honeysuckle floral nuance and a touch of minerality and spice. The wine is only partially aged in oak and less than half undergoes malolactic fermentation creating a fresh, juicy style with a lingering crisp, green apple finish. The wine paired beautifully with the fritto misto at lunch. Highly recommended and priced at under $16 a bottle.